Warner, Kaine, and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Support Virginia’s Seafood Industry

WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bipartisanSave OurSeafood(SOS) Act,which would exempt fish processors—which are critical to Virginia’s economy—from the H-2B visa cap, which has made it difficult for localseafoodprocessors to hire the seasonal workforce they need.
“Theseafoodindustry is a critical part of Virginia’s economy, especially in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore,”said Kaine.“I often hear from Virginia’sseafoodprocessors about how hard it is to find seasonal workers, so I’m glad to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to make it easier for these businesses to hire the workers they need.”
“Virginia’sseafoodindustry relies on seasonal, H2-B workers to help meet demand during peak season,”said Warner.“Without this workforce, many of Virginia’sseafoodprocessors would simply have to close up shop. I’m glad to introduce this legislation that will help Virginia’s businesses by ensuring they have the labor needed to keep their operations up and running.”
“Alaska’sseafoodindustry is a delicate chain – and when processors don’t have the workforce to meet demand, the whole industry can fall apart,”said Murkowski.“Coastal communities, family-owned fishing boats, and Alaskans who work in the industry need to know that they have fully-functioning operations where they can deliver their catch. Through this legislation, I’m working to ensure that the industry has a dependable workforce that can process and deliver the highest-qualityseafoodin the world.”
Seafoodisa billion-dollarindustry in Virginia, supporting over7,000 jobsfor Virginians and generating over$26 millionin revenue annually. Many of Virginia’sseafoodprocessors rely on workers from the H-2B visa program to harvest and process Virginia crabs and oysters in season, but processors annually struggle to get enough workers during the season when they are needed most. TheSOS Actwould permanently exempt seasonal, non-immigrant workers who work inseafoodprocessing from the cap on H-2B visas, ensuring that processors have the workforce they need, when they need them to meet the increased demand at the start of the harvesting season.
“The Virginiaseafoodprocessing industry is grateful for Senators Kaine and Warner reintroducing theSave OurSeafoodAct.We appreciate the bipartisan group of Senators committed to supporting workingseafoodbusinesses around the country. Virginiaseafoodhas participated in the seasonal, temporary H-2B program since 1997,”said AJ Erskine, Board Member, VirginiaSeafoodCouncil.“We manufacture domestic, perishableseafoodproducts that require an increased seasonal workforce. Our seasons are defined by state and federal regulations and the environmental conditions in which we work. Senators Kaine and Warner understand that this is not a partisan issue. Theseafoodindustry is simply asking for a small modification of an existing cap exemption. We thank Senators Kaine and Warner for their vision and support of ourseafoodindustry.”
“Our 4thgeneration family crab processing facility in Hampton continues to struggle to keep our doors open! The H-2B program has been our lifeline the last 30 years and without congressional help we will perish,”said John Graham III, President, Graham & Rollins, Inc.“The current lottery system currently deployed by Homeland Security is not feasible to sustain any kind of business and frankly is a disaster!!”
The senators have long supported theseafoodindustry. In2023, Kaine and Warner introduced theSave OurSeafoodAct,and Kainemet with heads of Virginiaseafoodcompaniesin Lottsburg, VA to discuss the need to boost theseafoodworkforce. Earlier that year, the senators met with then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to discuss workforce challenges facing the Virginiaseafoodindustry andurgethe Department of Labor to consider reforms to the H-2B lottery to better meet seasonal labor needs. In 2022, Kaine and Warner alsosuccessfullypushed the Department of Homeland Security for the release of additional H-2B visas.
The legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Full text of the legislation is availablehere.

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